President Obama’s recently concluded visit to Riyadh – his second as President – comes at a pivotal time in U.S.-Saudi relations. With the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iran’s nuclear program the big topics discussed between the two leaders, the meeting was an important opportunity for the two old allies to get on the same page.
Here are three takeaways from the meeting.
1. The meeting between President Obama and King Abdullah lasted more than two hours and was described as “excellent”
In a released press briefing by senior administration officials on the president’s bilateral meeting with King Abdullah as shared on our sister site SUSRIS.com, the meeting between President Obama and King Abdullah lasted more than two hours and was described as an “excellent” and productive discussion that covered a wide range of important issues.
“There’s nothing like a face-to-face meeting, and that’s why it was a priority for the President to actually come here,” according to the statement. “The President has been in touch with the King numerous times through meetings, phone calls, exchanges of information, and obviously dialogue among senior officials. But there’s nothing like a face-to-face meeting, and that’s why it was a priority for the President to actually come here.”
“[I]t was an opportunity not only to underscore that we’re trying to get to the same place, but some of the ways that we are doing it…I think it was important to have the chance to look [King Abdullah] in the eyes and explain how determined the President is to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” the official told reporters after the meeting.
2. President Obama and King Abdullah focused primarily on U.S.-Saudi cooperation on Syria and Iran, but other issues were discussed
President Obama and King Abdullah focused primarily on the Syrian civil war and the threat from Iran’s nuclear program and foreign policies, but a range of other issues were discussed.
On Syria, the Administration emphasized that it understood the importance of the Syria issue to King Abdullah and that the two nations would increase cooperation there. “King Abdullah feels very passionately about Syria and the tragic humanitarian situation there, as obviously does President Obama… we’ve been working together very well and increasing our cooperation, which I think is, indeed, getting better and better,” the White House said in a written statement.
Although the Administration noted “this was not a trip or a meeting designed to coordinate detailed questions of types of assistance to the Syrians,” the talks were more geared toward general strategy. “The President didn’t come here to do what his senior officials do and intelligence and military channels do. He came here to do the strategic discussion that I underscored about our objectives and our commitments.
On Iran, the President emphasized to King Abdullah he was “determined” to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and to continue to counter Iran’s “other destabilizing activities,” the Administration said.
3. President Obama did not bring up rights issues directly with King Abdullah, but did meet with Maha Al-Muneef, a well-known Saudi social worker who was honored for her role in combating domestic violence
In the lead-up to the meeting, some members of congress from both parties and human rights groups were keen on the President bringing up questions about human rights in Saudi Arabia, but after being pressed on the issue by reporters, the White House said that he did not. “[W]e raise a range of issues, including human rights, in our regular dialogue with the Saudis, even if it wasn’t a focus of this meeting,” the administration official said. When pressed by several reporters if human rights issues were brought up, the administration official ultimately replied, “no.”
Here’s that exchange:
Q I asked you the question on Air Force One on the way here about the humanitarian issue, and I’m wondering to what extent that came up? What did the President tell the King about concerns about the — I said humanitarian — human rights issues, I should say, in Saudi Arabia?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, the beginning of your question I will pick up on — you mentioned the humanitarian — you started with the humanitarian —
Q I meant to say human rights abuses that many human rights organizations are complaining about, bipartisan members of Congress are complaining about in this country that we have such great relations with.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, like I said, this was an opportunity to focus primarily on the importance of the strategic partnership and regional issues. There were a whole lot of issues on our bilateral agenda that weren’t the focus of this meeting. I do want to take the opportunity to say — because you started by talking about humanitarian —
Q I apologize —
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Okay, well —
Q Did human rights abuse issues come up at all in the President’s talk?SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The focus of the meeting was strategic and regional topics.
Q So it did not come up?
Q We need a yes or a no.
Q Yes, really.
Q Did it come up?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No.
Q Thank you.
While in Riyadh, President Obama met with Maha Al-Muneef, and presented her the US State Department’s Women of Courage award. Al-Muneef is a Saudi social worker who was honored for her role in combating domestic violence and is the executive director of the Kingdom’s National Family Safety Program.
“I just wanted to let everybody know Dr. Al Muneef was a recipient of the International Women of Courage Award that the State Department annually presents to women who are doing extraordinary work around the world advocating on behalf of women, children, and families. She was not able to attend because of family health issues, but we were aware of the fact that we’d be able to see her here today to personally present the award,” the President said in remarks released by the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh.
“I’m doing this on behalf of Michelle Obama, who normally is the presenter, and I know that Dr. Al Muneef is disappointed that it’s me instead of Michelle — appropriately so,” the President said, garnering laughter from the audience.
[President Obama addresses embassy employees and media at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh. Photo via the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh on Facebook.]
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